By Jennifer Ortega
After visiting the Boca Town Center last week and learning how mall-goers dealt with winter in South Florida, I went to Florida Atlantic University to see how students were handling the cold weather. Not surprisingly, I found the student body just as perplexed and frustrated by the chilliness as other Boca Raton residents. It might seem silly given the fact that the rest of the country is blanketed in snow, but as a people who are used to tropical breezes, we can’t take even a little cold!
The physical appearance at Florida Atlantic University has not changed much, but the dropping of temperatures has had students changing their daily routines.
Jennifer Ortega
“We’re more inclined not to go to class when it’s cold,” admitted one student.
The inconsistent temperatures even seemed to be decreasing attendance at University events, as fans have become hesitant to sit outside or travel. It’s just as tough for athletes on campus. One student mentioned it isn’t easy for her friend on the cross-country team.
“He has to get up at 5am to run eight miles in the cold. He’s not exactly happy about it,” she said.
I spoke with an architect major who finds it difficult to stay healthy. He laid blame to entering and exiting buildings as a result of his constant head cold.
“It’s very intense, it’s warm inside and cold outside.” Our bodies can only handle so much,” he complained.
On the other hand, since the last cold front, the sales of warm drinks such as hot chocolate and coffee have nearly doubled in the Dunkin’ Donuts located inside the library. The Dunkin’ Donuts manager was pleased.
“I’m finding a lot more people are staying inside and by 9’oclock we’re packed!” he said
Boots...Fashion or function?
Because of the flurry of cold fronts, he estimated a broad majority of students just come to sit in the warmth.
The FAU Bookstore also had a recent increase in sales. FAU logo sweaters are flying off the shelves.
This mirrors the trends I found at the mall last week, with a dramatic upswing in the sale of winter clothing. On campus I noticed an abundance of winter boots. This led me to an important question: Are boots a choice of fashion or function?
The women cashiers at the bookstore concluded that they were just “cute and comfy!” That’s one point for fashion. But, function made a comeback when a girl walking through the FAU breezeway with boots up to her knees said she wears them for warmth.
“Florida jeans aren’t thick enough and these boots really help,” she said.
Overall, as Floridians, we’re never content. A business major summed it up perfectly.
“It’s hard, because when it’s hot you want cold and when it’s cold you want hot. But at least we don’t live in New York,” he said.